The Wife You Buried Is Back from Hell novel Chapter 1032

Inside the R&D center of NextCore Aviation Technology.

On a massive holographic display, a 3D model of a stealth fighter, codenamed “07,” rotated slowly.

Danielle stood before the screen, her long fingers flying across the virtual control panel as she adjusted a minuscule aerodynamic parameter on the wing's edge. As one of the project's core engineers, she had spent enough time with it to know every component and every line of code by heart. This work was her passion, the battlefield where she had poured countless hours of her life.

“Chief Engineer Crawford, data validation is complete,” a young engineer said, his voice filled with admiration.

“Good. Notify the wind tunnel lab. We need to run a new round of virtual aerodynamic simulations,” Danielle replied, her voice cool and calm, utterly composed. She was long accustomed to earning respect through impeccable professionalism in this male-dominated field.

Just then, the department director, Alexander Davidson, walked over with someone in tow.

Danielle looked up, and her eyes paused for a fraction of a second on the person beside him.

Lorie.

She was wearing a brand-new, clearly ill-fitting NextCore uniform, her face a mixture of poorly concealed smugness and unease. Danielle never thought she'd see Lorie at NextCore, and from Alexander's attitude, it seemed she was being given significant importance.

“Chief Engineer Crawford, I'd like you to meet Lorie. She's a new senior engineer we've brought on board, with exceptional technical skills,” Alexander announced with a smile.

Lorie extended a hand, her own smile sweet. “Chief Engineer Crawford, we meet again. I look forward to working with you.”

Danielle shook her hand briefly, the touch so cool that she pulled away almost instantly. “Welcome aboard.”

A wave of discomfort washed over her, but she didn't dwell on it. The company had its own hiring standards, and she had never concerned herself with such matters.

However, in the days that followed, Lorie's “green-light” treatment surprised the entire team. She was moved into the 07 fighter project team with almost no substantive evaluation or adjustment period, and was assigned to handle relatively independent and critical modules that were originally managed by senior engineers. Alexander's favoritism was even more blatant; he granted nearly all of Lorie's requests and even personally coordinated resources for her.

Danielle remained focused on her work, treating Lorie's presence as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Work was work. It didn't matter who she worked with, as long as the project's progress and quality were maintained. She believed that time would prove everything.

But her indifference didn't last long.

That afternoon, as Danielle was wracking her brain to solve a tricky compatibility issue with the flight control system, there was a knock on her office door.

Alexander walked in, his face wearing a complex expression she had never seen before—a mixture of apology and official business.

“I need you to pause the work you're doing,” Alexander said calmly.

Danielle looked up, her brow furrowing. “Mr. Davidson, I'm working on the core algorithm for the flight control system. It's a critical-path task. It can't be paused.”

“Understand?” Danielle laughed, a sound dripping with sarcasm and disappointment. “You want me to understand why I have to hand over the core algorithm of the 07 fighter—a project critical to national security and this company's reputation—to someone who isn't even familiar with basic testing protocols?”

“I wouldn't care if you paved the way for your favorite on any other project, but the 07 is not a game, Mr. Davidson. Are you telling me you're just playing around?”

The air in the office froze.

Danielle knew that with that question, her career at NextCore had likely come to an end. But she didn't regret it.

Some lines could not be crossed. Some principles had to be upheld. The integrity and sanctity of scientific research could not be sacrificed for someone's personal gain or nepotism.

She took a deep breath, forcing the erupting anger back down and converting it into a cold resolve.

“Mr. Davidson, I will follow company regulations and handle the handover.”

“But I reserve my objections.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the city skyline outside the window before she spoke again, her words deliberate. “And I will be submitting a formal complaint to upper management and the project review board.”